Glebe leads the charge: Electric car charging station a first for Australia

Glebe leads the charge: Electric car charging station a first for Australia

SYDNEY traffic moved one step closer to a carbon-neutral future with the launch of Australia’s first public electric-car charging station in Glebe on Monday.

The station, which is on the corner of Glebe Point Rd and Derby Place and managed by ChargePoint, will service one electric Toyota Prius from car-share company GoGet’s fleet.

GoGet co-founder Bruce Jeffreys said the station would recharge the car in two to three hours using 100 per cent renewable energy, and the car would travel for 20 to 30km on one charge before transferring to hybrid petrol-electric power.

Electric vehicles do not emit carbon dioxide, however most major car manufactures are not expected to launch fully electric models until 2012 or later.

Sydney Mayor Clover Moore, said the council would be buying 50 electric vehicles during the next 18 months for use in the city as part of its commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 70 per cent from 2006 levels by 2030.

“Of course we will be wanting to also see the rollout of other charging stations, but this trial will enable us to assess how this one goes,’’ she said.

ChargePoint CEO Luke Grana said governments, businesses and individuals needed to be proactive in facilitating the introduction of electric vehicles.

“We will be working hard with the local councils and fleets who adopt early,’’ Mr Grana said.

“As more electric vehicles come into market we plan to roll out more infrastructure to support the uptake over time.’’

“(We will) announce further charging station rollouts throughout Australia ? in the near future.’’

Mr Grana said electric-powered driving will cost motorists about $2 to $3 per 100km, and each charging station was valued about $4000 plus site-specific installation costs.

GoGet members will be able to book the electric Prius immediately for the same rental rate as the company’s standard hybrids, Mr Jeffreys said.

“We’re really looking to the GoGet members to see how they take this up,’’ he said.

“If there is demand from our members, which we think there will be, we will continue to roll out more vehicles in more locations.’’